Self-winding timepiece



Nov. 9, 1937. L. BORNFRIEND SELF-WINDING TIMEPIECE 6 Sheet-Sheet 1 Filed July 8, 1931 INVENTOR Nov. 9, 1937. BORNFRIEND SELF-WINDING TIMEPIECE Filed July 8, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 45w Nov. 9, 1937.

L. BORNFRIEND 2,098,737

SELF-WINDING TIMEPIECE Filed July 8, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 9, 1937. BORNFRI'ENDI 2,098,737

SELF-WINDING TIMEPIECE Filed July 8, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Uta-Ill. IIIIIIIIIIIIIII WIT-Tu.

INV ENTOR Nov. 9, 1937. L. BORNFRIEND SELF-WINDING TIMEPIECE Filed July 8, 193] 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 v M R Mmmrm z wwm v a 9 Nov. 9, 1937. L. BORNFRIEND 2,098,737

SELF-WINDING TIMEPIECE Filed July 8, 1931 e Sheets-Sheet e 111mm. J W M lfin L y I F/GV/ INVENTOR Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the art of self-winding timepieces, and has for its principal object the provision of a watch or clock which is wound automatically by the motions of the arm, or by the movements of the body, or by the movement and vibrations of an automobile or aeroplane, and the utility of this invention is, that the owner of a time indicating device mentioned shall be relieved from winding it.

Another object of this invention is to provide a self-winding timepiece which is simple in its construction, reliable and efllcient in action, and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable price.

A further object of this invention is to provide a self-winding wrist-watch movement which corresponds in its size and form with a stem-winding wrist-watch movement, so that watch-cases which are made to fit the latter will also fit the former, whereby the production cost of the complete watch will be substantially reduced.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a self-winding wrist-watch with a stem hand-setting means, in which the stem is placed in the same angle as in a stem-winding wristwatch.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a self-winding'wrist-watch with a second-hand, which is placed in the same angle as in a stem-winding wrist-watch.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a self-winding timepiece with improved devices for preventing overwinding of the mainspring, and injuring of the self-winding mechanism.

The invention embraces still other objects, new elements, novel features in construction, arrangements of parts, combination of elements as to co-act and co-operate with each other in their performance of function, and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, which will be hereafter described, illustrated and claimed.

For the purpose of distinction and brevity, I

will refer in the following description, more particularly, to a self-winding wrist-watch, without intending however to restrict my invention to any specific type of a self-winding time-indicating device.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a material part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front plan view of a self-winding wrist-watch showing also in broken lines th PQ- sition of the pendulum and hand-setting mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a plan rear view of the watch-movement of Fig. 1 without the case, showing particularly the arrangement oi. the gearing-train. I

Fig. 3 is a rear view similar to Fig. 2 but disclosing particularly the self-winding mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of Fig. 3 on the line 4-4.

Fig, 5 is a vertical sectional view of the speedreduction wheel, disclosing the releasing mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a plan rear view of a clock movement, showing specifically the click-disengaging mechanism in engaged position.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section of Flg.'6 taken on the line 11.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but shows the click-disenga ing mechanism in disengaged position.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 8 on the line 9-9.

Fig. 10 is a plan rear view of Fig. 1 showing the movement (unfinished) secured in the case, and the recess for theweight of the pendulum.

Fig. 11 is a cross-section of Fig. 10 on line HI i.

Fig. 12 is a fractional side view of Fig. 1 show-- ing the stem-covering device in closed position.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but disclosing the stem-covering device in open position.

Fig. 14 is a cross-section of the pendulum, taken on line I 4ll in Fig. 3, showing the pendulum combined of sheet-metal plates.

Construction Within the watch-case I (Fig. 10) is the watchmovement 2, secured by the case-screws 3 and 4. Upon the baseplate 5 (Fig. 2), is a train-bridge 6 secured by the train-bridge screws I. Rotatively mounted between the baseplate 5 and train-bridge 6, is the centre-wheel pinion 8, which supports the centre-wheel 9, that engages'the third-wheel pinion In, which is also rotatively mounted between baseplate 5 and train-bridge 6. A thirdwheel II fixed on the third-wheel pinion i0. meshes with the fourth-wheel pinion l2 which is rotatively supported between baseplate 5 and train-bridge 6. A fourth-wheel l3 secured to the fourth-wheel pinion i2 engages the escapementwheel pinion H which is also rotatively mounted between baseplate 5 and train-bridge 6 and carries the escapement-wheel I5. A pallet (not shown) is operatively connected with the escapementwheel i5 and balance-wheel It. A barrel-bridge ill is secured to the baseplate 3 by the screws (IE3. A barrel i9 is rotatively mounted on the barrelarbor iii which is also rotatively secured between barrel-bridge i1 and baseplate b and is in mesh with the center-wheel pinion 3. Que end of the mainspring 2!] (Fig. i) is. secured to the barrel is and the other end is secured to the barrelarbor 2d. The pendulum 22 (Fig. 3) consists of a weight 23 and a pendulum-plate it, which are secured together by the pendulum screws A recess tilt in the baseplate 5 provides swinging space for the weight 23 of the pendulum 22. A pendulum-staff 2% (Fig. d) riveted to the pen dulum-plate M, has its upper pivot 21 rotatively mounted in the pendulum-bridge 23, which is secured to the train-bridge t, by the pendulumbrldge screws 29 (Fig. .3), the lower pivot 3b (Fig. 4) or the'pendulum-stafi 26 being rotatively plate 24. The winding-click spring 34 forces the winding-click 32 into engagement with the click- ,wheel 36, which is firmly secured to the clickwheel pinion 31 which is rotatively mounted on the projecting bushing 3| (Fig. 4). A stopping-click 38 (Fig. 3) is rotatively secured by the stopping-click screw 39 to the train-bridge 6. One end of the stopping-click spring 49 is permanently secured to the stopping-click 38 and the other end is slidably mounted in the stopping-click stud 4!, which is firmly secured to the train-bridge 6. The stopping-click spring 40 forces the stopping-click 38 into engagement with click-wheel '36. A speed-reduction wheel 42 which is in mesh with the click-wheel pinion 31 is frictionally connected to the speed-reduction pinion 43, which is rotatively mounted between baseplatei and barrel-bridge 11. A transmise sion-Wheel 44 rotatively mounted between baseplate 5 and barrel-bridge I1 is in mesh with the speed-reduction pinion 43, and with a windingwheel 45, which is permanently secured to a sleeve 46 (Figs. 3 and 4). The hole of the sleeve is odd shaped and the sleeve is mounted removably but not rotatively upon barrel-arbor 20. An idle gear 41 rotatively mounted upon sleeve 46, meshes with click-wheel 36. The sleeve 46 is provided with a differential-thread 43 (Fig. 4) on which a nut 49 is arranged to operate. A pin 50 which is permanently secured to the barrel l9 extends loosely through the nut 49.

A stem 5| (Fig. 1 broken line) in combination with the yoke-holder 52, yoke 53, yoke-spring 54, clutch-wheel 55, minute-wheel 56, hour-wheel 51, is provided for setting of the hands 58 as in a usual stem-winding watch.

Operation the pendulum 22 (Fig. 3) is oscillating, and when the same is swinging in the counter-clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow P, the

winding-click 32 rotates click-wheel 36 also,

43, transmission-wheel 44, winding-Wheel .5.

sleeve and barrel-arbor 2% which coils the mainspring 220 (Fig. i) within the barrel iii. When the pendulum 22 (Fig. 3) swings in the opposite direction, indicated by the arrow Pl, the winding-click slides idly over the teeth of winding-click wheel 36, to reassume the winding action at the next counter-clockwise swing oi the pendulum. Because the outer end of the mainspring 26 (Fig. 4i) is secured to the barrel 69, when the mainspring 2i recoils the barrel it rotates and transmits its rotation to centerwheel pinion 3, center-wheel 9, third-wheel pinion it (Fig. 2), third wheel ll, fourth-wheel pinion t2, fourth-wheel i3, escapement-wheel pinion id, escapement wheellb through apallet (not shown) to the balance-wheel it, whichin combination with a hair-springpregulates the running gearing-train.

Proceeding with the disclosure of the operation of an overwinding-preventer which is suitable for pocket-watches, the nut 49 (Fig. 4) is arranged to be at the lower, part of the sleeve 46 when the mainspring 2| is uncoiled. When the winding mechanism is operating to wind the mainspring 2|, the sleeve 46 is rotated by the winding-train, and the nut 49 ,which is held against rotation by the pin 50, moves upwardly on the thread 48; when the nut 49 has reached the upper part of the sleeve 46, which is prearranged to be at the same time when the mainspring is nearly fully wound, the said nut 49 presses the idle gear 41 against the windingwheel 45, so the idle gear 41 stops rotating and prevents the operation of the winding-train, due to the engagement with click-wheel 36. The pendulum 22 also stops oscillating, since the winding-click 32 which is secured to the pendulumplate 24, is in mesh with click-wheel 36, and consequently over-winding of the mainsprlng 2| is prevented and damaging of the winding-train is also avoided, since the idle gear 41 acts directly upon click-wheel 36, and not through the leverage of the winding-train. When the mainspring 2i is uncoiling and is rotating the barrel l9, the pin 5|] turns the nut 49 downwardly, the idle gear 41 becomes free to rotate, and the pendulum 22 can resume oscillation to operate the windingtrain.

The above disclosed overwinding-preventing mechanism can be successfully employed for pocket-watches only, since they are not exposed to violent motions, but wrist-watches are subjected to violent shocks, for instance, while playing golf, or tennis, and if they should be provided with the above described overwinding-preventing mechanism only, then, if the pendulum receives a violent shock at the particular moment when the nut 49 has reached the upper position (as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4) damage to the winding train will be caused. This is due to the fact that when the nut 49 is in looking position, no part of the winding-train can yield. Therefore for this type of timepieces I have included 3 a releasing-element within the winding-train, When the timepiece is exposed to vibrations which will yield to the violent shocks of the pendulum. J

Disclosing the construction and operation of wheel 42, which becomes frictionally connected to the solid-washer 59. A locking-nut 63 also operating on the thread 62, is provided to lock the adjusting-nut 6| in order to secure a lasting and uniform friction between the speed-reduction Wheel 42 and solid-washer 59.

Assuming the nut 49 (Fig. 4) is in the upper position indicated by the dotted lines (Fig. 4) and prevents the idle gear 41 from rotating, and if at that moment the pendulum 22 receives a violent shock, the speed-reduction wheel 42 (Fig. 5) will slide on the solid-washer 59 avoiding any damage to the winding-train or to the overwinding-preventing mechanism.

A self-winding timepiece is usually provided with two clicks, a winding-click that is operatively connected with the pendulum and is in mesh with a click-wheel which operates the winding-train, and a stopping-click which may be in mesh with any wheel of the winding-train, its function being to prevent the backward motion of the windingtrain, so that the winding-click slides over the teeth of the click-wheel, in order that the pendulum can operate the winding-train upon motion in the winding direction.

With my modified arrangement the stoppingclick becomes disengaged when the mainspring is wound to a desired extent, so that the windingtrain also rotates backwardly and the pendulum cannot perform any winding action as long as the stopping-click is out of engagement.

In the modified construction the stopping-click 38 (Fig. 3) is replaced by adisengaging-click 10 (Fig. 6) which is rotatively mounted within a cavity 1| on the barrel-bridge H by a disengaging-click screw 12. A disengaging-click spring 13 has one end slidably mounted in a disengag ing-cliclc stud 14 that is secured to the barrelbridge l1 and the other end is permanently attached to the disengaging-click 1 0 and forces the same into engagement with the idle gear 41. One end of a spring-plate 15 is rigidly secured by the rivets 16 to the idle gear 41 and the other end is directed downwardly (Fig. '1) towards the nut 49. That end of the spring-plate 15 which is secured to the idle gear 41 does not reach the periphery of the idle gear but the other end reaches slightly beyond the teeth of the idle gear 41.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming the mainspring 2| is uncoiled the differential nut 49 is at the lower part of the sleeve 46 when the pendulum 22 (Fig. 6) swings in the direction of the arrow P in order to operate the winding-train for winding of the mainspring, the winding-click 32 rofates the click-wheel 36, click-wheelpinion 31, speed-reduction wheel 42,

I which is now rigidly secured to the speed-reduction pinion 43, to rotate transmission-wheel 44, winding-wheel 45, sleeve 46, barrel-arbor 20, and mainspring 2| (Fig. 7). The spring-plate 15 passes under the disengaging-click 10, leaving same in mesh with idle gear 41 which is in mesh with click-wheel 36, and therefore the windingtrain is restricted to rotate in one direction only. When the pendulum 22 (Fig. 6) swings in the direction of the arrow PI, the winding-click 32 slides over the teeth of the click-wheel 36. The winding operation continues as long as the springplate 15 (Fig. 7) passes under the disengagingclick 10. When the mainspring is nearly wound, the differential nut 49 (Fig. 9), when moved upwardly presses the spring-plate 15 towards the idle gear 41, the spring-plate 15 which extends beyond the periphery of the idle gear 41 being now on the same level as the disengaging-click 16, and when the idle gear 41 rotates, the spring plate 15 which is secured to the idle gear 41, forces the disengaging-click 10 outof mesh. This allows the winding-train to rotate also in the opposite direction. Now when the pendulum 22 (Fig. 8) swings in the direction of the arrow P, the winding-click 32 rotates the click-wheel 36, but when the pendulum 22 swings in the direction of the arrow Pl, the winding-click 32 does not slide over the teeth of the click-wheel 36, since same is also rotating backwardly, due to the disengagement of the disengaging-click 19, and therefore the pendulum 22 discontinues the winding action and overwinding and damaging of the winding-train is eliminated.

When the watch is running, that is when the uncoiling mainspring rotates the barrel l3 (Fig. 7) the pin turns the differential nut 49 downwardly, the spring-plate 15 also returns to its original position, the disengaging-click 16 meshes again with the idle gear 41 and the pendulum can reassume the winding operation.

The click-disengaging mechanism just described can only be employed for larger size watches in which the mainspring is sufllciently strong and the pressure of the spring-plate 15 (Fig. 9) on the differential nut 49 which is operatively connected with the barrel will not have considerable influence on the driving power of the mainspring, but in small size watches the said pressure will positively influence the regulation of the watch.

In order to bring out clearly the novel structural features, which have made possible to have the stem-setting and second-hand of my watch placed at the same angle as in a standard wrist watch, I have divided my illustrated watch (Figs. 1 and 2 by a line R. S.) into two main sections A, Band have subdivided section B by line M. N. into two sub-sections Bi and B2. I have mounted the barrel-arbor (Fig. 2) in main section A, which is an entire departure from the present watch construction. This new arrangement enables me to utilize sub-section B2 for the recess I08, and the rear part of sub-section B-| (Fig. 1) for the hand-setting mechanism, and the novel feature which enables me to place the second-hand on the central vertical line, is, that I have mounted the axis of the third-wheel in the opposite main-section of the barrel-arbor (Fig. 2) which is also new in the watch construction.

In order to give the pendulum-axis a simple and solid bearing, I have provided in the centre of the train-bridge 6 (Fig. 4), a projected bushing 3| which can be either,a part of the train-bridge 6 or of a more resistible material and rigidly secured thereto. The staff 26 which is permanently secured to the pendulum-plate 24 is supported at both ends, by the pendulum-bridge 28 and train-bridge 6, giving the pendulum a sol d bearing and can be easily removed from the movement by unscrewing of the pendulum-bridge and the baseplate can be of a standard construction.

It is essential from a mechanical point of view to have the pendulum-staff 26 (Fig. 3) journaled in the center of the click-wheel 36 in order to provide a favorable co-action of the windingclick 32 and click-wheel 36. If the click-wheel 36 were rotatively mounted directly on the pendulum staff 26, it would act like a brake upon the pendulum 22, therefore, I have provided the projecting bushing 3| (Fig. 4) on which the clickwheel 36 is rotatively mounted, and consequently the pendulum-stall. 26 is free to rotate and is not influenced by the click-wheel 36. This novel structural feature can be equally employed for odd shaped watches where the pendulum is mounted out of the centre of the movement.

In the course of assembling or repairing of the watch-movement it is necessary to wind the main-spring in order to test the gearing train or escapement. Therefore I have provided a slot (Fig. 4) in the odd shaped part of the barrel-arbor 20 which is arranged to be shorter than the sleeve 46, so that the watch-movement can be wound by two convenient means, either by screw driver placed in the slot 90 or by a projected odd shaped member placed in the sleeve 46.

In 'order to give to the self-winding watch a distinguished attractive feature, I have provided apertures 9|, 93 (Figs. 1, 11) in the dial 92 and in the baseplate 5 which will make the swinging pendulum visible to the face of the watch.

The weight of the pendulum is an important factor in the construction of self-winding watches.

It is essential to have the weight as heavy as possible, therefore it is necessary to select a metal of a high specific gravity. Where the pendulum is sufiiciently large, it can be made of any suitable metal and provided with cavities which are filled with a metal of a high specific gravityas for instance, lead or tungsten pillars. But where the space is restricted and the pendulum must be heavy it is necessary to make the entire weight of a -metal of high specific gravity such as uranium, iridium, platinum, gold, tungsten .and tantalum, etc. The first four are too expensive to be considered and the last two have peculiar physical qualities, both namely can be neither cast nor machined, and are therefore not applicable for pendulums so I have devised a method to make pendulums out of tungsten or tantalum. Both metals are produced in sheet form which can be stamped, so I make the pendulum-weight 23 (Fig. 14)" out of sheet-metal plates 65 which are stamped in required form and either riveted together by two bushings 66 of a suitable metal which are provided with an inside thread and the whole weight 23 is secured by the two pendulum-plate screws 25 to the pendulum-plate 24 or the sheet metal plates are welded together by a special welding process. The disclosed method of making pendulums is economical and practical and can also be applied for castable metals.

A self-winding watch will have more attraction if the crown 96 will be invisible, therefore I have provided the aperture 91 of the case I (Fig. 1) of a tapered shape corresponding to the crown 96 which is provided with a reduced headpin 98. A plate 99 (Figs. 12, 13) is hinged on a. pin I00 which is secured to the case i and is provided with a slot IN to fit the reduced head-pin 9B and with a slot I02 to lit a stud I03 which is secured to the case I. To set the hands it is necessary to lift the cover 99 and pull out the crown 99 by the tapered head-pin 98 and when the cover 99 is lowered as shown in Fig. 13 the ranged to meet the spring .I04 at both ends'oftheswinging limits of the pendulum. The spring I04 is made of spring-wire, and it can be cheaply produced, easily replaced and conveniently ad- :Iusted.

Although I have shown and described my invention in considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the exact and specific details shown and described, but may use such substitutions, modifications or equivalents thereof as are embraced within the scope of my invention or as pointed out in the claims. I

In the following claims by the term "windingtrain may be understood all or some of the parts from the first wheel operated by the pendulum up to the barrel-arbor, and the term self-winding mechanism" embraces awinding-train and a selfwinding means.

What I desire to claim is:

1. In a self-winding timepiece, a mainspring connected with a winding-train comprising a threaded staff, a gear secured thereto, a second gear rotatively mounted on said stafl, a nut mounted on said threaded staff to provide a frictional connection between the two gears, and a self-winding means operating said winding-train.

2. In a self-winding timepiece, a mainspring, a winding-train actuating said mainspring, a selfwinding means to operate said winding-train, a stopping click in engagement with said windingtrain, a gearing-train operated by said mainspring, and means operatively connected with said gearing-train to actuate said stopping click at a predetermined time.

3. In a self -winding timepiece, a winding-train, comprising a threaded barrel-arbor, a gear rotatively mounted on said arbor, a stopping click engaging said gear, a spring plate secured to the gear, a nut non-rotatively mounted on said threaded barrel-arbor and coacting with said spring-plate to disengage the stopping click at a predetermined time and a self-winding means to operate the winding-train.

4. In a self-winding timepiece, a barrel, a barrel arbor, a mainspring connecting said barrel and barrel arbor, a baseplate supporting said barrelarbor, a winding-train operating said barrel-arbor, an oscillating pendulum, having a projected weight, operatively connected with said windingtrain, a hand-setting mechanism, including a stem, mounted on said baseplate, said stem being mounted on the horizontal central line of said baseplate, and a recess in said baseplate to provide swinging space for said weight, said stem and barrel arborbeing mounted in opposite vertical halves of said baseplate.

5. In a self-winding timepiece, a. barrel, a barrel-arbor, a mainspring connecting said barrel and barrel-arbor, a base-plate supporting said barrel-abor, a winding-train operating said barrel-arbor, a self-winding means operating the winding-train, a hand-setting mechanism, including a stem, mounted on said baseplate, said stem 6. In a self-winding timepiece, a barrel, a bar- I rel-arbor, a mainspring connecting said barrel and barrel-arbor, a baseplate supporting said barrelarbor, a winding train operating said barrel arbor, "an oscillating pendulum, having a projecting weight, operatively connected with saidwindingtrain, a hand-setting mechanism, including a stem, mounted on said baseplate, said stem being mounted on the horizontal line of the baseplate, said stem and barrel-arbor being mounted in opposite vertical halves of the baseplate, a recess in said baseplate to provide swinging space for the weight of the pendulum, and a gearing-train, comprising a third wheel and fourth wheel,

mounted on the baseplate, said fourth wheel being mounted on the central vertical line of the baseplate, the third wheel and the barrel-arbor being mounted in two opposite vertical halves of the baseplate.

LOUIS BORNFRIEND. 

